Wednesday's Public Meeting

Just a quick update - asked some very good questions about the council and Helios activities on poor consultation of the Biomass proposals on Wednesday night. However, The Echo decided not to run with my question but rather the Conservatives quotes. Try again another day.

However, if you scroll down to the video section on the following link, I'm the chap in the standard issue white shirt and red tie asking the difficult questions!

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8945940.Biomass_consultation____has_been_disastrous___/

Biomass: Some Answers

Yesterday evening I attended another of Helius public consultation events. The turnout was impressive. In almost two hours, I would suggest that well in excess of 200 people passed through the doors of Freemantle Church on Testwood Road.

This was another opportunity to show support for the community, but also to get some answers from one of Helius top men: Paul Brighton is the Planning Director for Helius on this project, and I managed to pin him down for a few “answers” to questions that you have asked me to raise.

What are the benefits to the local community for having a Power Station here?

Mr Brighton answered that there would be a number of benefits, although I was not persuaded by any of them:

Jobs: “there will be 450 jobs during the construction phase, with 40 permanent jobs thereafter.” It was confirmed that there would be no ring-fencing of jobs for us locals or any tie-ins with local education providers. Therefore the benefit of jobs will not necessarily go to anyone who lives in the shadow of this proposal! Additionally, there was some concern as the Independent Planning Commission had different numbers of jobs being created from the Consultation Strategy which had different numbers from those being quoted at the consultation.

Carbon Agenda: “this will contribute to a reduction in Southampton’s carbon emissions.” However, Mr Brighton contradicted himself by saying that “it would only be a small step.” Putting this contradiction to one side, a 2006 British Gas survey of CO² per dwelling put Southampton as third best in the country. We were over 25% better than our neighbours Reading! However, I did suggest that in these challenging times, although important this was not the priority for a large number of families.

Combined Heat and Power: We then moved onto the issue of using the heating generated when making electricity and how that could be fed into the CHP network which lies less than a mile away. Helius answer was “this continues to be investigated throughout the process. It would only happen if it were commercially viable”. Therefore if Helius can’t make any money on it, they would rather it goes to waste. It’s not sounding quite the Green saviour is it?

Capital Investment: After continued questioning the Planning Director suggested that the people of Millbrook and Freemantle would benefit from a massive capital investment in the area. However, this investment is purely commercially driven, as there would be no improvement to the area as paid for by Helius. The IPC nor the Council “can force us to do anything which we feel isn’t commercial.” 

How was this site chosen? What other sites have been considered?

In answering this question Mr Brighton stated that Helius became aware of this site as part of a national search that they regularly undertake. I did suggest that perhaps Helius should undertake to look at the Eon Power Station at Fawley as this was in effect a mothballed site which would by closing by 2015.  However, he later confirmed that “this would be the largest power station we have attempted to build this close to a residential area”.

Much has been made in the press about the creation of a landmark building for the people of Southampton. Therefore I put the direct question to Paul Brighton, Have you any other designs in place? “We have no other designs at this time...” Going by Helios current plans, we can look forward to a giant green barn as our Spinnaker Tower.

Will the air quality get better or worse?

“The plant will not materially affect the air quality”. This I thought was strange, as I knew that Millbrook was an Air Quality Management Area already. However, talking to a resident at the meeting, he pointed out to me that he couldn’t have a log burning fire in his home, but they could build a Biomass Power Station. Curious.

Do you have a Corporate Social Responsibility Policy in place?

This question is very important, but the policy is often overlooked by businesses when dealing with communities. Basically if a local business has one of these it means that they will encourage growth and development within the community, and eliminate practices which harm the community whether or not they are legally allowed to do so. Its almost like a conscience for the business regarding its relationship with local people. Mr Brighton’s response: “I’m sure we do...it’s probably on the website”.

How long have you been conversing with the council on these plans?

I have made my feelings quite clear on the blatant u-turn taken by the Conservative-run Council on the issue of the Biomass. The portfolio holder in charge welcomed the proposal last year as did Millbrook Councillor Linda Norris in her winter leaflet. What surprised me was that Paul Brighton, Planning Director confirmed that they had been in serious talks with the Council “since September or October last year”. I thought I was on the ball with this issue when we were asking people their thoughts before Christmas, but I didn’t know the Council had been in talks for over 6 months!

It is true to say that as a non-scientist I haven’t addressed the major ecological debate on whether Biomass Power Stations are Green. However, my common sense approach on this subject was confirmed by Helius when they said that “At least 80% of the fuel would come from outside of England...including Scandinavia, the Eastern Americas and possibly Africa”.

My last comment on the evening should by given to Paul Brighton, as I did subject him to a rigourous questioning session on your behalf. I asked him if he thought that the community may suffer economically as a result of building a structure bigger that the Civic Centre in Millbrook and Freemantle. “There is no real evidence to show long-term negative impact on house prices...and you can’t ask me if I’d live here as it isn’t fair...”

Indeed Mr Brighton, IT ISNT FAIR.

U-Turn?

Its not often that I spend time reading conservative literature, but I was sure that I had read something about the Biomass Power Station in their last leaflet.

Turns out I was right!

My position was always to LISTEN to you. I LEARNT from you. And now I will ACT on your behalf. I look forward to reading the full facts of how long the civic centre have been in negotiation with Helius.

Millbrook is your community. We have 7 weeks to take it back.

Biomass - My view!

This morning I have been putting a letter out in our area putting across the views of myself and our MP. The text is set out below.

I have also joined the facebook group No to Southampton Biomass http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/No-Southampton-Biomass/143482112383289

Additionally I wanted to talk to one of the movements co-ordinators, but this has not been possible due to her other commitments. This issue shouldnt become political - but it has as so many people are saying that the Labour Party are for these proposals. THAT SIMPLY ISNT TRUE.

Text of my letter is below:

Over the past few months we have been working to raise awareness of the proposals by energy company Helius to build a biomass power station in Millbrook.  We've attended public meetings and exhibitions about the scheme. We've also been going door to door, talking with local residents face to face and asking for their views.

We've LISTENED - here's what you told us:

• Helius and the Conservative Council have failed to address residents’ concerns about the size of the proposed development; increased congestion; and the overall impact on our neighbourhood.
• Residents are angry about the lack of information being put out about the plans by both the Council and by Helius.

We said we'd LISTEN and ACT on what you told us. Here's what we're going to do:

• We'll be making a formal submission to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) calling on them to reject the Helius proposals.
• We'll ask the IPC to look at whether potential alternative sites for the plant have been properly explored.

Of course we’ll continue to support efforts to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, but we are clear that the plant proposed by Helus may well not achieve this end and is definitely in the wrong place.

We are also worried that Conservative Councillors have failed to be straight with local people about their role in these plans.  Below is an extract from the Southern Daily Echo article the day the plans were first published:

“Southampton City Council’s Cabinet member for environment and transport, [Conservative] Councillor Matt Dean, said he was delighted that the plans were moving forward and would boost Southampton’s credentials as a sustainable city.”

-          Southern Daily Echo, Tuesday 17^th August 2010

We are deeply concerned that Southampton’s Tory Council is saying one thing to Helius and something completely different to local residents.  We believe people whose homes and communities would be affected by these proposals deserve better than that.

Power Station or Not to Power Station (not much of a question)

Good evening. I just wanted to attach the text of a speech I gave at this evenings No to Southampton Biomass community organised meeting:

The picture taken from this evenings Daily Echo,
showing a mock up of the view from Foundary Lane.

"First can I say thank you for inviting me along this evening, and be given the opportunity to address you.

I speak to you this evening not as the labour party candidate for Millbrook, but as a concerned local resident who lives within the shadow of the proposed scheme.

I don't ever miss the opportunity to talk to the people of Millbrook…when I'm out walking the dog, shopping in Tesco's or popping into the Wellington for a pint.

People have told me how worried they are about the lack of details coming forward. I am concerned about the lack of readable information coming from the developers; I am worried about the lack of information from the national Infrastructure Planning Commission based in Bristol; and I am dismayed at the silence coming from the Civic Centre.

My fear is that central government will make these decisions without ensuring that, we the residents of Millbrook are able to challenge having such an industry based at the bottom of our garden. If it is being forced through, where are our benefits? Where are our long term jobs? Our discounted energy? Our good health? Our pollution free air?

I am listening to the residents of Millbrook and I am concerned. On the doorstep, people are afraid that they are being put at risk because there hasn’t been the chance to actively engage with Helios in a Public Forum - I am talking about a formal question and answer session where we can hold the Tory run council and developers to account.

I am informed that our conservative controlled council has been in talks with Helios for months. I must have missed the leaflet in the post asking for my opinion. A bit like I missed the leaflet from Helios first time around.

Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is something we all want to see happen. Protecting our environment for the future, the generation of new jobs to the area, and developing science are all potential positives to embrace. But there are so many unanswered questions…taking the lead from your own website, the issue for me is that currently I'm not sure if it is well planned, environmentally beneficial or appropriate for our area.

Helios acknowledge that this is a development within a high risk flood area, An air quality management area (AQMA, too many cars, not enough clean air!) and within reach of a number of national and internationally designed conservation sites.

I want to know, where are our answers? We didn’t get them after the first public consultation. We await the second. The decisions taken over the next few weeks are going to be monumental for us. This will be a legacy for the next half a century. Is this right for us here tonight? Is this right for us residents of Millbrook? Importantly it has to be right for the generations of the future..."

The meeting was well attended by around 200 local residents and a number of conservative councillors (none of which actually live in the area - unless you count Bassett as local!!!). It was a shame that the meeting became politicised as I was proud to be sitting amongst the community of Millbrook rather than a political rally, which is what I fear it became after a number of comments from the sitting conservative councillor.

This is a community issue. I said at the start of my candidacy that I would listen, learn and act on your behalf. Tonight you showed the council that they aren’t listening hard enough. The conservative run council should’ve been brave enough to deal with this issue before it became a problem. Now we must take on the Con-Dem government and get them to listen to our concerns.

Birthday Evening Update

It’s been a gruelling few weeks balancing the demands of a tense time at work, continuing campaigning on the telephone and on the doorstep all whilst trying to spend some time at home with my supportive wife and rescue dog, Tippy.

Today was my first break in campaigning since before November. This was my first Saturday off this year! I was under strict orders to spend some time with my family and enjoy my 30th birthday. I had a great time celebrating the 75th anniversary of the spitfires’ first flight and a number of other old time aeroplanes.

However, as I sit here on the evening of my birthday, I can’t help but feel that although I have had an enjoyable day, there are countless individuals across the city who may have also celebrated their birthday, but in not such happy surroundings.

My wife and I work hard for a living. I work for the Constabulary and my wife for the NHS as a Community Nurse. Things are tight. Costs are high. But we are managing to pull our belts in and cut costs here and there. However, there are those in Southampton who can’t afford the basics in life.

We can argue about who or why the country is in the financial mess it’s in. My comment would be that it doesn’t have to be like this. It’s too fast and too soon. Frankly, it’s just not fair on some people. Today as I watched a spitfire crossing overhead, I wondered just how many veterans are facing a life in poverty - after owing so much to so few...

The Conservatives in Southampton City Council were worried about making cuts and getting a budget passed. I was disgusted with some of their choices, but what really offended me was that a number of them were smiling after the decision was made. Smiling?!?!? I wonder if they slept well that night. I know my conscience wouldn’t let me.

Alas I digress. The reason for me writing was that I felt guilty that I'd had a great day when some of our vulnerable and elderly in Southampton face rising costs. The provision of Meals on Wheels is something which I believe that we all should agree on. Aiding those hard working individuals, who in most cases don’t even ask for help, is something which is the right thing to do. To raise the cost of their hot meals from
£3.47 to £4.78 is UNFORGIVABLE. This will affect an estimated 600 people across the city. Nine out of ten are pensioners.

A quick comparison with other councils suggested costs: Southampton £4.78, Portsmouth £3.40, Eastleigh £3.00, Test Valley £2.30, Fareham £2.80, Isle of Wight £3.10.

So...it’s off to bed to wake up early tomorrow, bright, refreshed and ready to TAKE MY CITY BACK!